January 19, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
325 
cold during the severe weather whilst boarding a 
mail boat, and succumbed to a combined attack of 
rheumatism and inflammation of the liver. 
Ill-advised hybridisation.—Our horticultural friends 
on the Continent would seem to have fallen upon 
evil ways or ill-advised experiments, according to the 
Bulletin d'Arboriculture. For some time past, horti¬ 
culturists have been trying to obtain by way of seed- 
sowing, but more particularly by artificial fertilisa¬ 
tion and even by hybridisation, other colours and 
more regular flowers amongst the Clivias. They 
hive thus fecundated the best flowers with the 
pollen of Amaryllis and Hippeastrum. It is asked 
whether it is not this crossing that one sought to 
attribute the decay that exists amongst the leaves of 
many of the Clivias. At first, yellow spots without 
any trace of parasites are noticed ; then, the yellow 
spots spread and the leaves become entirely yellow. 
Now, Clivias have persistent foliage, so that the 
plants whose pollen has been employed naturally 
spoil the foliage. Is it not this latter character 
which tends to reproduce itself equally in Clivia to 
the detriment of the stability of the foliage of the 
latter. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.-The annual 
general meeting of this Association was held on the 
8th inst at 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh. Mr. 
M. Todd presided. The Secretary (Mr. Robert 
Laird) submitted the report, which summarised the 
work of the past year, and stated that there were 
now 520 members on the roll. Acknowledgment 
was made of the continued support and co-operation 
of the Town Council. On the motion of Mr. W. M. 
Welsh, the report was adopted. The treasurer (Mr. 
Alex. Mackenzie) gave in his statement, showing a 
total income of £52, 14s. nd., and an expenditure of 
£41, is. 7d., leaving a balance of £11, 13s. 4d. The 
total revenue from the recent Chrysanthemum show 
amounted to £ggS, 7s. 2d., and after meeting the 
expenses there was a surplus of £125, 7s. 5d. The 
reserve fund now amounted to £647, 12s. The 
report was adopted. On the recommendation of the 
Council, supported by the chairman, Mr. R. W. E. 
Murray, Blackford House, was unanimously elected 
president of the Association. Messrs. Laird & 
Mackenzie were also unanimously re-elected secre¬ 
tary and treasurer respectively. During the season, 
it should be mentioned, the Council have made the 
following awards to assistant gardenersFor the 
best collection of herbaceous plants, dried and 
correctly named—1, Mr. A. M'Lennan, Easter 
Duddingston Lodge, silver medal ; 2, Mr. J. C. 
Newsham, Kev, Surrey, bronze medal. For the 
best plan of laying out a kitchen garden of not more 
than two acres—1, Mr. George Beech, Mortonhall, 
Liberton, silver medal; 2, Mr. Newsham, bronze 
medal. 
The weather of December in Edinburgh —At the 
meeting of the Edinburgh Botanical Society on the 
10th inst., Mr. Lindsay, curator of the Royal 
Botanic Garden, in his report on the vegetation of 
the month, stated that the weather during December 
was exceedingly mild, with comparatively little frost 
and no snow, and but for the severe gales which 
occurred towards the close of the month, it would 
have been one of the most favourable Decembers on 
record. Owing to the mildness, spring-flowering 
bulbous plants were well started into growth, the 
young shoots in some cases being nearly an inch 
above the ground. On the Rock Garden no new 
plants came into flower in December. The total 
number of species and varieties which flowered on 
the Rock Garden during 1894 amounted to 1,143, as 
against 1,114 in the previous year ; and the largest 
number came into flower during the month of June. 
Mr. A. D. Richardson, in his meteorological 
observations at the Gardens, reporied that the mean 
of the barometer during December was 29 754, being 
o 058 above the average of the three previous years. 
The mean temperature of the month was 414, which 
was o 5 above the average of the same period. The 
highest temperature in the sun was on 10th Decem¬ 
ber (78 8), and the lowest on the ground was on the 
31st (227). There was frost on the ground twenty 
times during the month ; and rain fell on sixteen 
days, the total fall being 1995 inch. The highest 
temperature for the year was 76 9 degs. on 7th July 
—which was the lowest maximum for four years— 
and the lowest was 118 degs. on 7th January, The 
mean temperature for the year was 47 3, being 0 8 
deg. above the average jf the three previous years. 
July was the warmest month, with a mean of 58 3 
deg , and January w§s the coldest, with a mean of 
37 6 deg. Rain fell on 212 days during the year, and 
the fall was 29 894 inches, being the greatest for four 
years. The largest fall occurred on 16th February, 
and it was 1 650 inch ; September was the driest 
month, with a fall of 0 445 inch ; and February was 
the wettest, with 6 697 inches. 
-—*•- 
THE CAMELLIA. 
This is the season of the Camellia and on to April. 
Once a great favourite, it has ceased to be so much 
grown as formerly, and yet it makes a noble con¬ 
servatory plant and blooms abundantly under proper 
management, whether it be planted out, or grown in 
tubs and pots. One is sometimes surprised to see 
huge plants of Camellias in tubs and pots that 
appear to be very small for the size of the plants, 
and it does, appear as if the very leaves of the 
plants, from their large and glossy nature and full 
substance, were indicative of gross roots. But this 
is not the case. To over-pot Camellia plants, unless 
attended with more than ordinary vigilance in the 
way of watering, is bad practice. In fact, it is well 
known that collections of plants seldom potted, if 
grown in good compost and the drainage thoroughly 
efficient, are generally the most luxuriant and most 
productive of flower buds. Small-sized portable 
plants are perhaps better re-potted every second 
year. Large plants in pots and tubs require only 
looking to in this way once in five or six years, 
according to size, and some have been known to 
grow and produce fine blooms that have had no 
re-potting for a much longer period. But occasional 
top dressings of some good soil, with the addition at 
times of some plant manure applied upon the surface, 
is frequently found of good advantage. Evidently, 
the constitution of the plant does not require an over 
rich diet, and if growing in well-drained pots, in a 
compost made up of tough fibry loam, and peat in 
nearly equal parts with some sand to make the whole 
porous, and the temperature be right, the plants will 
do well. 
Temperature properly regulated and a proper degree 
of shade in summer appear necessary to the well¬ 
being of this fine plant. A somewhat high tempera¬ 
ture is of decided advantage at the season of growth 
as assisting bud formation, though we have know¬ 
ledge of plants growing in the open air in the South 
of England, which bldom profusely season after 
season. But let it be remembered that it is only 
during the season of growth that a high temperature 
is necessary. During what is known as the season 
of rest the plants may be kept only two or three 
degrees above the freezing point, and they are better 
in such a temperature than in a house at a tempera¬ 
ture exceeding 45 0 or so. I have known plants to 
resist frost with impunity, and I think there is less 
bud dropping from this cause than in a high and dry 
heat: No temperature higher than that above-men¬ 
tioned is necessary until the plants have done bloom¬ 
ing and the young growth commences, then a gradual 
rise may take place and a proportionate degree of 
moisture at the root and in the atmosphere be main¬ 
tained until the buds are swelled up to the size of 
quite small Beans. If this can be accomplished 
early in the season, so much the better are the buds 
likely to be persistent and bloom well; such a tem¬ 
perature as is maintained in a vinery from first to 
last, which is probably the best way of explaining in 
a general way, is fitted for growing and flowering the 
Camellia in a satisfactory manner. When the plants 
have arrived at this stage with their buds so far 
advanced and they may be placed out of doors in a 
situation sheltered from sun and wind, or in a house, 
which is better, where there is no fire heat. A 
selection of varieties can be made, some of which 
will bloom as early as November, and successionally 
far on into April. 
Shading during summer is necessary. I have 
seen Camellias in the dark heavy houses built a half 
century ago, where architectural adornment formed 
the chief feature of the plan, in the enjoyment of the 
rudest health. The young leaves of the Camellia 
are not only impatient of sun, but the old leaves 
appear to become scorched quicker than those 
almost of any other hard-wooded plant I am 
acquainted with. The elements of success during a 
season of growth are heat, shade, and moisture. 
Plants in or about to bloom should have a warmer 
temperature than those less forward. A little fire- 
heat every day, with the ventilators open at top in 
favourable weather, and occasionally at bottom, is 
desirable. Such sorts as the old double white, and 
all light varieties, are better where a circulation of 
moisture and air takes place, as they prove good 
preventives to the ironmould-like spots that 
invariably follow a close moist atmosphere. The 
plants must never be allowed to become too dry at 
the roots, or else bud-dropping sooner or later will 
take place; but it is quite as bad practice to have 
the roots saturated with moisture, and equally 
destructive to the bud. As to guano or manure 
water, it should be applied very sparingly, and 
never during the short days, when the system of the 
plant is least excited. No fresh potted plants 
requires any artificial manure or liquid, but such 
plants as have been growing for two or three years 
in the same pot, and the roots compact and thickly 
laid together, will be much benefited by surface 
applications of a fertiliser judiciously applied. 
And now as to varieties. The deepest crimson is 
Mathottiana, the flowers large and full; and the 
finest crimson is C. M. Hovey ; Marchioness of 
Exeter, when rosy-scarlet; and Archduchess Isabella 
de Toscana is also very fine, of a deep reddish-rose 
colour. Of rose-coloured varieties the following are 
very fine:—Th. Commendatore Betti, pale bright 
rose; L’Avenir, pale rosy-pink; and Bella 
d'Ardighoni, rose, with slight narrow pale veins. 
Beautiful pink varieties are found in Countess of 
Derby, soft pink, very pleasing; Mrs. C. M. Hovey, 
very delicate pink; and Madame Ambrose 
Verschaffelt, delicate pink, with a distinct white 
margin to the petals. White—La Vestale (new), 
later in flowering than the old white ; Montironi 
alba, very pure white; and the old Alba plena, all 
very good. Blush—Romanensis, with slight rosy 
flakes ; and Cup of Beauty. Striped—Archduke 
Carle, deep reddish-rose, flaked white; Princess 
Clotilde, white, with rosy stripes; and Prince Albert. 
— R. D. 
- --**- 
LILIES OF THE VALLEY. 
Amongst all the wealth of flowers with which we 
are able to adorn our hardy flower-gardens, as well 
as those flower-gardens under glass common to the 
more wealthy establishments, it is a great question if 
any are more admired than this time-honoured 
favourite. The old-fashioned hardy flower garden 
filled with old floral favourites, so closely associated 
with our childhood's days, usually contained a corner 
where the Lily of the Valley flourished at its own 
sweet will. While it has thus long been known and 
appreciated, many people might be surprised to 
learn that it is a native of our own country, although 
the localities in which it is to be found growing wild 
are comparatively few, and owing to the mania for 
building and other so-called improvements, are 
becoming scarcer year by-year. It always haunts 
the shade of the woods, and with regard to natural 
distribution is sprinkled over the countries between 
the Mediterranean and the Arctic Circle. Bentham 
in his “ Illustrated handbook of the British Flora ” 
states that it is abundant in some counties of England, 
very local or wanting in others and scarcely 
indigenous in Scotland or Ireland. 
It flowers naturally during early summer, May 
usually, but does not keep in bloom for any length 
of time, certainly not nearly long enough for us to 
get tired of its deliciously fragrant flowers. The 
demand for flowers oat of their natural season is 
exceedingly great and year by year gives employment 
to hundreds of persons in the preparation of crowns 
suitable for forcing, as well as in the active work of 
growing the plants on and inducing them to bloom in 
spite of a low outside temperature, a work in which 
most gardeners have to take an active part. By the 
judicious forcing or retarding of the growth of the 
plants, the season during which it is possible to 
obtain Lilies of the Valley in flower maybe extended 
throughout a great part of the year, always 
supposing a sufficient stock of crowns to be avail¬ 
able for keeping up the supply. 
The freezing of Lily of the Valley crowns has of 
late received considerable attention as a means of 
keeping them in a dormant condition for any reason¬ 
able length of time. This treatment does not injure 
them in any way whatever, indeed, it would almost 
seem to be the other way about, for it is a well-known 
fact that crowns which have been thus frozen break 
away into growth on being taken into the forcing 
